Sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting device
A water-harvesting system can operate with a material that can take up and release water with minimum energy requirements and powered by low-grade energy sources, such as sunlight, in order to potentially allow its deployment into households, especially those located in sunny regions. A water-harvesting method and system can include vapor adsorption using a porous metal-organic framework. In certain embodiments, the porous metal-organic framework can include metal-organic framework in ambient air with low relative humidity, typical of the levels found in most dry regions of the world.
1. A water-harvesting system comprising:
(i) a water vapor adsorbent layer; and
(ii) a water condenser adjacent to the adsorbent layer,
wherein the adsorbent layer comprises a porous metal-organic framework material infiltrated in a porous binder, and the metal-organic framework has a packing porosity of between 0.5 and 0.9.
2. The water-harvester system of claim 1 , wherein the binder comprises a copper foam.
3. The water-harvester system of claim 1 , wherein the binder comprises a carbon-based foam.
4. The water-harvesting system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a coating on the adsorbent layer, wherein the coating is optically transparent and thermally insulating.
5. The water-harvesting system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a coating on the adsorbent layer, wherein the coating is optically transparent and thermally insulating, wherein the coating comprises an aerogel.
6. The water-harvesting system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a coating on the adsorbent layer, wherein the coating is absorptive for solar irradiation.
7. The water-harvesting system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a coating on the adsorbent layer, wherein the coating is absorptive for solar irradiation, wherein the coating comprises a graphite or a solar absorbing paint.
8. The water-harvesting system of claim 1 , wherein the metal-organic framework comprises zirconium (Zr).
9. The water-harvesting system of claim 1 , wherein the metal-organic framework comprises MOF-801 (Zr 6 O 4 (OH) 4 (fumarate) 6 ).
10. The water-harvesting system of claim 1 , wherein the metal-organic framework comprises cobalt (Co).
11. The water-harvesting system of claim 1 , wherein the metal-organic framework comprises Co 2 Cl 2 BTDD, wherein BTDD is bis(1H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-b],[4′,5′-i])dibenzo[1,4]dioxin).
12. The water-harvesting system of claim 1 , wherein the system is powered solely by solar irradiance, waste or biomass.
13. A method of water-harvesting comprising:
(a) adsorbing water from ambient atmosphere using a water-harvesting system of claim 1 ;
(b) applying energy to the water-harvesting system to desorb vapor; and
(c) collecting water with the condenser.
14. A method of water-harvesting comprising:
(a) adsorbing water from ambient atmosphere using a water-harvesting system comprising an adsorbent layer and a condenser adjacent to the adsorbent layer;
(b) applying energy to the water-harvesting system to desorb vapor; and
(c) collecting water with the condenser,
wherein the adsorbent layer comprises a porous metal-organic framework material infiltrated in a porous binder, and the ambient atmosphere has a relative humidity of less than 30%.
15. The water-harvesting method of claim 14 , wherein the binder comprises a copper foam.
16. The water-harvesting method of claim 14 , wherein the binder comprises a carbon-based foam.
17. The water-harvesting method of claim 14 , wherein the system further comprises a coating on the adsorbent layer, wherein the coating is optically transparent and thermally insulating.
18. The water-harvesting method of claim 14 , wherein the system further comprises a coating on the adsorbent layer, wherein the coating is absorptive for solar irradiation.
19. The water-harvesting method of claim 14 , wherein the metal-organic framework comprises:
(a) zirconium (Zr);
(b) MOF-801 (Zr 6 O 4 (OH) 4 (fumarate) 6 );
(c) cobalt (Co); or
(d) Co 2 Cl 2 BTDD, wherein BTDD is bis(1H-1,2,3-triazolo [4,5-b], [4′,5′-i])dibenzo [1,4]dioxin).
20. The water-harvesting method of claim 14 , wherein the system is powered solely by solar irradiance, waste or biomass.